Ellen Gittelsohn

Television director Ellen Gittelsohn first dipped her foot into the industry with the 1982-1983 married-and-harried sitcom "It Takes Two." After a long hiatus, she became increasingly more prolific throughout the '90s and '00s, helming a variety of comedy shows that included everything from the bawdy remake "Men Behaving Badly" to the widely relatable hit "Everybody Loves Raymond." With episodes of "Friends," "Living Single," and "Dharma & Greg" under her belt, Gittelsohn emerged as a director with a knack for comically portraying the lives and angst of 30-something roommates and co-workers, either of the young-professional type (the 1995 architect sitcom "Partners") or the aimless-slacker variety ("Two, Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place"). She has most frequently helmed "Half & Half," a sitcom about two mismatched sisters forced to live in the same apartment building. Gittelsohn has also lent her guiding hand to considerably younger stars on such Disney Channel comedies as "The Suite Life on Deck."